Rep. Bucshon Issues Statement on State Children’s Health Insurance Program

statement after the House of Representatives passed the Championing Healthy Kids Act (H.R. 3922):

"Americans are a compassionate people, and federal social safety net programs that ensure those who are too young, too old, or too ill have access to important services, like health care, reflect that compassion.

Congress created the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 1997 as a partnership with the states to ensure the healthcare needs of lower-income kids were met, and it is important that we continue to ensure that those needs are met going forward.

The Championing Healthy Kids Act does just that, extending funding for SCHIP for five years. This legislation also extends funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers, which are also an important part of the social safety net, and other important public health programs for two years - all in a fiscally-responsible manner."

"The House has acted to reauthorize SCHIP and other important health safety net programs, I urge the Senate to follow our lead and quickly act on this legislation and join us in ensuring that lower-income children can continue to receive healthcare."

In 2015 more than 8.4 million children received their insurance through the SCHIP program and 24 million patients were served by Federally Qualified Health Centers.